Inspired by Slim Aarons, this glamorous apartment is a lesson in basement decorating

No matter how big your apartment is, it may need more natural light if it is located primarily in a basement. In this duplex, Studio L’s Creative Director, Laura Marino, demonstrates how to make the most of a basement design while maintaining a stylish and attractive ambiance through the intelligent use of materials and furnishings.

“I wanted to evoke a sense of luxury for this apartment and make the decor interesting and exciting so that guests want to trek through to explore the full property,” explains Laura. So, we varied the intensity of the decor at different points. Initially, I planned to incorporate elements from Memphis Design, color blocking, pastels, and neon with ditsy florals, oriental decor, and stylized graphics to evoke a nostalgic air and draw inspiration from my formative years in the ’80s.

Then, the Hollywood Regency era of the 1950s and 1960s, another period I greatly admire, was incorporated. Inspired by Slim Aarons’s photograph of Joan Collins relaxing in her pastel pink bedroom in the late ’50s, I constructed a modern analog of the iconic image. One of the duplex bedrooms was outfitted in a gorgeous powder pink moiré cloth to evoke the original photo’s air of luxury.

THE ENTRYWAY

My goal was to have the lobby give you a taste of the rest of the building’s theme, color scheme, and design aesthetic. What a discovery, that pot of shimmering color! Within my own home, I make extensive use of iridescence. The glazed bricks in horizontal bands are an attractive design choice by architects. Laura exclaims, “What a stunning structure!”

THE LIVING ROOM

One of my all-time favorite pieces of furniture is the Ilse sofa by George Smith. I was looking for a complete Palm Beach 80s homage when I matched that Ralph Lauren fabric with the neon fabric from Metaphores.

Other highlights include the mohair “Little Temptations” antique armchairs by Mario Bellini and the hyper chrome lamps by Ground One Six with their knife pleat shades.

“The alpaca rug is the piece that most effectively conveys the spirit of the room,” the designer said.

THE DINING ROOM

According to Laura, “the dining area and the whole design for the apartment were inspired by the photograph of C.Z. Guest by Slim Aarons.”

Glass Italia’s Shimmer dining table by design Patricia Urquiola is a brilliant piece of furniture that breathes fresh life into any room.

The dining room chairs made of old rattan banana leaves and upholstered with cushions in fuchsia Rubelli moiré are also noteworthy.

“Aside from the dining table, my favorite part of the room is the gilded Hollywood Regency American Eagle wall bookcases. This fits in perfectly with the period and the photograph.

THE KITCHEN

I modified a classic Shaker door by adding a wide double bead soft edge to provide a more elegant look for the kitchen.

The bookcase unit was designed and constructed by Anemone Interiors.

As a source of mood lighting for the dining room, “I like the glo ball as the feature piece on the bookcase because I appreciate subversion in interiors.”

THE POWDER ROOM

“I wanted the washroom to have a beachy, bohemian, eclectic, 1980s feel,” the designer said.

The black and pink oriental carved rug drew me in, but all the artwork here stands out because I styled the room to look like a kitschy, nostalgic gallery.

THE HALLWAY

I made an ombré stair runner with a darker citrine green at the top and a lighter one as you descend to the basement to entice people to take the stairs and find out what’s happening there.

The runner turned out beautifully. Instead of sharp angles at each corner, I opted for an arc at the half-landing. This minor point, repeated once more, attracts you to the basement.

THE MAIN BEDROOM

“The major bedroom is inspired by the Hollywood Regency style and the Slim Aarons photo “Joan Collins Relaxes,” explains Laura.

‘The Dedar moiré fabric is the main attraction. The bedspread, headboard, and swag were all creations of mine. The chandelier is Italian mid-century and was purchased from Morentz, the lights are antique Maison Jansen, and the bench was sourced from Ground One Six. The Rug Company is the source of the wool and silk band rug.

THE SHOWER ROOM

Studio KO’s ingenious basket weaving of used fire hoses for the ceiling of Chiltern Firehouse served as my source motivation. I used that idea to create the mosaic on the floor.

What better way to bring the outdoors in than to create the sensation of an outdoor shower, especially when the design and finishes have a bit of a beach vibe? The 4m tall glass window in the shower that overlooks the private lightwell is a pleasant surprise.

WHAT WAS THE INSPIRATION BEHIND THE ROOM SCHEME?

I was inspired by Jennifer Shorto’s “A Journey Through Japan” mural paper to decorate this room. Due to the high ceiling, I needed to create a sense of lightness and airiness through the mural’s design.

The Le Klint flowers pendant is beautifully complemented by the glittering heavenly paper on the ceiling by Custholm.

The wallpaper influences the bed’s design. I modeled the contours of the headboard on those of the erratic waves. The waves are double-piped between the two primary textiles to further emphasize the similarities between the paper and the fabric. The bedding, including the bed cover and pillows, was inspired to mimic the starry wallpaper of the ceiling. I had some bedding custom-made out of a fabric with a faint sheen that was the same color as the wall coverings.

“This is such a beautiful, tranquil time,” Laura reflects. As far back as I can remember, Tobias and Afra Scarpa’s furnishings have always been some of my favorites. I reupholstered this chair of theirs in a nubby Pierre Frey textile that is lovely in the room.